On the 3rd of October 2025, Steffen Dalsgaard presented his paper on the promises of energy conversions in Power-to-X at a seminar series held by Helsinki University’s Anthropology department. The paper abstract can be read below:

Abstract

‘Power-to-x’ has within the last decade emerged as a critical assemblage of processes and technologies contributing to the hope of achieving green energy transitions without changing any of the comforts brought about by capitalism. While in principle built on a simple idea—that renewable energy through electrolysis can be stored for later use as ‘green’ e-fuels or fertilizers to be used for example in aviation or shipping—the process more broadly speaks to ideas about value and valuation in multiple ways. This paper will discuss especially one of these aspects, which to my knowledge has too frequently been overlooked in theoretical discussions of value in anthropology as well as in science and technology studies, i.e. that of value as potential. Empirically, the paper will use policy documents and expert interviews as the basis for an analysis of the power-to-x assemblage and specifically the symbolism communicated with the use of ‘x’ as the epitome of unrealized potential—combining open-endedness, mystery, and risk. The theoretical focus will be on the kinds of synergies that may exist (or not) between anthropological versus science and technology studies approaches to value (for the latter often in the form of valuation studies).